The Truth About the Five Stages of Grief

SciShow

21 Mar 201812:04

EducationalLearning

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TLDRThis SciShow episode delves into the complexities of grief and bereavement, exploring various psychological models. The well-known Kübler-Ross model's five stages are discussed alongside criticisms and alternative theories like the dual-process and task-based models. The video emphasizes that grief is a unique and personal journey, with recent research highlighting different trajectories of grieving. It also touches on disenfranchised grief and Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder, concluding that while therapy may not help everyone, most people eventually move past the acute stages of grief.

Takeaways

🕊️ Grief doesn't end with the funeral; it's a long, personal process that varies for everyone.
📚 Bereavement is the loss of a loved one by death, and grief is the distress caused by that loss.
🔄 The Kübler-Ross model suggests five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
📖 Elisabeth Kübler-Ross originally developed her model based on interviews with terminally ill patients, not grieving individuals.
🔬 The model has been critiqued for its lack of empirical evidence and problematic expectations it creates for grieving processes.
🔄 The dual-process model of grief involves oscillating between loss orientation and restoration orientation.
📋 A task-based model of grief proposes four tasks: accepting the reality of the loss, processing the pain, adjusting to life without the deceased, and finding a lasting connection.
📊 A study identified five common trajectories of grief: common grief, depressed-improved, chronic grief, chronic depression, and resilience.
🤝 Disenfranchised grief is grief that isn't socially acknowledged, making it harder to process.
💡 Most people can move past acute grief, the most intense phase, within three to six months and find a way to live with their loss.

Q & A

What is the Kübler-Ross model?
-The Kübler-Ross model is a theory that suggests we go through five stages as we process our grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
Who was Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and what did she contribute to the understanding of grief?
-Elisabeth Kübler-Ross was a psychiatrist who worked with terminally ill patients. She helped change attitudes about dying, advocated for hospice care, and proposed the five stages of grief in her book 'On Death and Dying'.
What are some criticisms of the Kübler-Ross model?
-Criticisms of the Kübler-Ross model include a lack of empirical evidence, no underlying explanation for why grief would be organized into sequential stages, the randomness of the stages, and problematic expectations it creates for grieving processes.
What is the dual-process model of grief?
-The dual-process model of grief suggests that grievers switch back and forth between two orientations: loss orientation, where they think about the person they've lost, and restoration orientation, where they focus on changes and problem-solving related to the loss.
How does the task-based model of grief differ from stage-based models?
-The task-based model of grief involves engaging in four tasks—accepting the reality of the loss, processing the pain of grief, adjusting to the world without the loved one, and finding a lasting connection with them. It is more flexible and accounts for individual differences.
What are some factors that can affect an individual's experience of grief according to the task-based model?
-Factors that can affect an individual's experience of grief include their relationship to the deceased, how the person died, and other stressors they are under.
What is disenfranchised grief?
-Disenfranchised grief is grief that isn't generally acknowledged by society, such as grief for someone you didn't know well or grief after a miscarriage.
What is Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder?
-Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder is characterized by intense suffering, longing for the deceased, and preoccupation with the death that causes distress and impairment lasting over a year.
Can therapy help people dealing with grief?
-While a 2008 meta-analysis found that grief therapy didn't significantly help the average person, it did somewhat help those having the most trouble coping. Therapy's effectiveness can vary, so it shouldn't be written off completely.
What is the typical duration for moving past the most difficult stage of grief, known as acute grief?
-Most people seem to be able to move past the acute stage of grief, characterized by intense physiological symptoms, within three to six months.

Outlines

00:00

📖 Introduction to Grief and Bereavement

The introduction discusses how modern cultures handle the passing of loved ones, highlighting the common emotional experiences that follow funerals. It introduces the terms 'bereavement' and 'grief' from a psychological perspective and mentions the Kübler-Ross model, which outlines five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. This model, although widely known, originated from Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's work with terminally ill patients and was later adapted for grieving.

05:01

📊 Criticisms of the Kübler-Ross Model

This paragraph discusses criticisms of the Kübler-Ross model, noting the lack of empirical evidence and scientific rigor in the studies it was based on. It also highlights how the model's stages are a mix of emotional states and cognitive processes, which lack a clear underlying explanation. Moreover, it points out that the model can create unrealistic expectations for grieving individuals, potentially leading to unhelpful support from their social networks and healthcare professionals.

10:02

🔍 Alternative Grief Models

This section explores alternative models for understanding grief. The dual-process model suggests that individuals switch between loss orientation (focusing on the deceased) and restoration orientation (adapting to life without them). The task-based model identifies four tasks of grieving: accepting the reality of the loss, processing the pain, adjusting to life without the deceased, and finding a lasting connection. It also mentions factors that affect the grieving process, such as the relationship to the deceased and the circumstances of their death.

📚 Multiple Grieving Processes

This paragraph introduces the idea of multiple grieving processes, based on a study that identified five common trajectories: common grief, depressed-improved, chronic grief, chronic depression, and resilience. These trajectories highlight the varied emotional experiences individuals may go through, emphasizing that grief can differ widely depending on personal and situational factors.

⚠️ Complicated Grief and Therapy

The final section discusses complications in the grieving process, such as disenfranchised grief and Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder, which can prolong and intensify grief. It also examines the effectiveness of grief therapy, noting that while it may not significantly help the average person, it can be beneficial for those struggling the most. The paragraph concludes by affirming that grief is a normal process and that most people can move past the most intense stages within three to six months.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Bereavement

Bereavement refers to the loss of a loved one by death. It is the state of having experienced this loss, which triggers the process of grief. In the video, bereavement is discussed as a technical term used by psychologists to describe the condition of those who have lost someone close to them.

💡Grief

Grief is the emotional distress caused by the loss of a loved one. It is a normal process that varies greatly among individuals. The video highlights that grief is not only a psychological response but also a deeply personal experience that can be influenced by many factors.

💡Kübler-Ross Model

The Kübler-Ross model describes five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Originally developed to describe the process of coming to terms with one's own death, it has been widely adapted to describe the grieving process for others' deaths. The video critiques its empirical basis and relevance.

💡Denial

Denial is the first stage in the Kübler-Ross model where individuals refuse to accept the reality of loss. This helps them temporarily cope with the shock. In the video, denial is described as a cognitive process that can help in managing immediate emotional overwhelm.

💡Acceptance

Acceptance is the final stage in the Kübler-Ross model where individuals come to terms with the loss. Although the pain persists, they learn to live with it. The video explains acceptance as a stage where individuals integrate the loss into their lives.

💡Dual-process Model of Grief

The dual-process model suggests that grieving involves oscillating between loss-oriented and restoration-oriented behaviors. Loss orientation involves focusing on and expressing emotions related to the loss, while restoration orientation involves adjusting to life changes and problem-solving. The video presents this model as a more flexible approach compared to stage-based models.

💡Disenfranchised Grief

Disenfranchised grief refers to grief that is not acknowledged or supported by society. Examples include grief over the death of someone you didn't know well or a miscarriage. The video notes that this type of grief can be harder to process due to the lack of societal support.

💡Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder

Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder is a proposed mental health condition characterized by intense longing, suffering, and preoccupation with the deceased for over a year, causing significant distress and impairment. The video discusses it as a potential diagnosis in the DSM-5 for people experiencing severe, prolonged grief.

💡Freud's Grief Work

Freud's concept of grief work involves the process of detaching emotional energy from the deceased and reinvesting it elsewhere. Failure to do this, according to Freud, could lead to psychological illness. The video references Freud's idea to highlight historical perspectives on grief.

💡Acute Grief

Acute grief is the intense, initial phase of grief marked by symptoms such as exhaustion, a lump in the throat, and an empty feeling in the stomach. The video explains that while acute grief is deeply painful, most people move past it within three to six months.

Highlights

Grief is a normal process and varies for everyone.

Bereavement refers to the loss of a loved one by death, and grief is the distress caused by that loss.

The Kübler-Ross model outlines five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross originally proposed the five stages for terminally ill patients, not for grieving others.

The five stages of grief lack strong empirical evidence and have mixed support from studies.

The dual-process model suggests grievers switch between loss orientation (reflecting on the deceased) and restoration orientation (adjusting to life changes).

The task-based model of grief involves accepting the reality of the loss, processing grief, adjusting to a world without the loved one, and finding a lasting connection with the deceased.

A 2002 study identified five common trajectories of grief, including resilience as the most common pattern.

Disenfranchised grief refers to grief that is not acknowledged by society, such as miscarriage or the death of someone you didn't know well.

Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder includes intense suffering and preoccupation with the death that lasts over a year.

Grief therapy may not significantly help the average person but can aid those struggling the most with grief.

Most people move past the acute stage of grief, which includes intense physiological symptoms, within three to six months.

Grief involves establishing a lasting relationship with the deceased as part of coping.

Researchers worry that the simplicity of the Kübler-Ross model makes it hard to replace in the public's mind despite its flaws.

SciShow Psychology offers additional content on why humans act the way they do, which includes more on the topic of grief.

Transcripts

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